Paris will be swinging along to the sound of music next Thursday (21st June) when the Fête de la Musique takes place. Hundreds of amateur and professional musicians will perform impromptu gigs in train stations, parks, on street corners and in other public places. Big-name artists are also expected to perform at some of the larger venues such as the Place de la Republique and the Palais Royal. This annual event, which is completely free to the public, aims to enourage the expression of a range of musical styles - including jazz, classical, rock and pop – all within a carnival atmosphere. For more information visit fetedelamusique.culture.fr.

Original post by Andy Pettefer and software by Elliott Back

So the morning after we were in Rottnest Island, we got the bus from Perth to Cervantes. Shortly after we arrived, we took a sunset tour to Nambung National Park, home of the amazing Pinnacles. On the way to the park, the tour guide very nicely took us on a wee detour to the stromatolites at Lake Thetis…very cool! Then to the Pinnacles, where we wandered around and saw the sun set. It was all really lovely. (Dianne, the tour guide, even let us view the whole place through her rose-tinted glasses. At sunset, those glasses make everything especially beautiful. Seriously, they’re really rose-tinted!)

We stayed in a really nice hostel in Cervantes, and it was just a few minutes walk to the gorgeous beach at Thirsty Point. I managed to swim in the cold water, but Iff stayed on the sand! We really chilled out in Cervantes. It’s a lovely, peaceful town with the beautiful beaches, stromatolites and Pinnacles right on its doorstep. What a gem.

After three days there, we got the bus to Denham (with a night at the bizarre Overlander Roadhouse en route — the whole place was covered in bugs, but we got into our room to find accommodation worth five stars compared to all the bugs outside!). Denham is the gateway to Shark Bay, a gorgeous place which is World Heritage listed. Denham itself is a wee, quiet seaside town of 600, but from it is easy access to the sites of Shark Bay. We got a day tour of the highlights, including more stromatolites at Hamelin Pool (noted by Bill Bryson in his Down Under book), the amazing Shell Beach and wonderful Ocean Park with marine life found in Shark Bay. We also took a short trip to Monkey Mia to see the famous dolphins there. We were worried that it would be far too touristy and that the dolphins were being exploited, but it wasn’t like that at all. It’s all very well done and eco-friendly. So far we haven’t been able to see any of the 10,000 dugongs which live in Shark Bay because they’ve gone to warmer waters. But hopefully we’ll see them when we get to Ningaloo Reef. Fingers crossed!

Today is our last day in Denham, and it’s been lazy so far. We rented bikes and went to Little Lagoon, a beautiful lagoon near Denham. We’ve been beach bums all day basically! Tonight we get the bus to Coral Bay, and we’ll arrive at 3am! Getting closer to those big, fat whale sharks…

*For pictures of this stuff, see the links in the right-hand panel.

Original post by Trace and software by Elliott Back

by Roger Munns

Having spent tens of millions of Euros on new and improved facilities for skiiers, European country Andorra was looking forward to a good 2007 season, increasing the near ten million tourists that have been visiting in previous years.

But the one thing the country really needs to entice ski tourists hasn’t been coming - snow.

Over the last decade Andorra has been blessed with an abundance of snow, making for perfect ski conditions. But while the snow has started falling as early as the last week of October in previous years, none has fallen so far for the 2007 ski holiday season.

‘The snow making machines have been working overtime since the beginning of the season’, comment a local travel guide, continued ‘They have allowed a depth of around 20cm of snow for popular Andorra ski resorts like Soldeu, but while it’s an effective substitute for many skiiers it’s still not the real thing. It’s allowing skiing for people who booked their holidays a while ago, but last minute bookings are well down as people read the ski reports and head elsewhere this year.’

Press reports in the UK, Andorra’s top market, have indicated that some tour operators have already cut their prices, some by nearly 50 per cent, to entice the skiiers back to the Principality.

‘It really is the market for later in the season that’s in danger of being hit’, say the guide, ‘If they see now there isn’t much snow in Andorra this will influence their booking even though it could be a different story altogether when they get to go on their ski holiday’.

The ski tourist is also an important factor for the real estate agents in Andorra, with a percentage wanting to buy a holiday home after a visit.

‘So far there has been little change in the demand’, claim an Andorra property company who specialise in Andorra property for sale, ‘A lot of the buyers at the moment are those who visited last year, but it might have some impact from mid October onwards 2007′.

Andorra Real Estate

Buying a property in Andorra is often seen as a route to residency, which entitles people to live in Andorra and benefit from her tax haven status.

To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time. Residency normally takes between three and six months to be approved.

Once residency is granted, residents are supposed to spend six months a year in Andorra, but this isn’t policed.

One of the drawbacks for those looking to become a resident in a tax haven when considering Andorra has been that the country has no airport of its own, and is unlikely to have ine future given that it is located in the Pyrenees. The nearest airports are Barcelona and Toulouse.

Recent improvements in the road from Barcelona to Andorra though have cut the travelling time by some thirty minutes to two hours fifteen minutes.

About the Author
YourAndorra.com provides a guide for Andorra including Thomson ski holidays and other Andorra skiing holidays

Original post by Larry and software by Elliott Back

When it comes to stylish and elegant designs, the community of Switzerland are established all over the world. From hip wrist watches to branded shoes, Swiss style are always necessitated.

The Mudac design museum, whose base is in Lausanne, Switzerland, has been voyaging all over the world for the last 150 years. The main objective of this endeavor is to showcase the creativity and multiple facets of the designs of the community of Switzerland.

Criss Cross Exhibitions, which is the name of the touring museum, exhibits over four hundred variants of products. The exhibition was primarily sanctioned by the Federal Culture Office of Switzerland. The wide selection of products being shown are based on the six themes which fuses history with modernization, simplicity and luxury, and the queer and sophisticated.

In addition, one of the more established products on showcase are minute objects, like hearing aids, Braille stamps, and the modern Swiss passport. Aside from that, jewelries, apparels, books, recipes, among others, are likewise being flaunted in the museum.

Other innovative designs that persons can find in the exhibit are the famous Micro Skate Scooter, invented by Wim Ouboter, as well as one of the more popular variants of Nike, the Airmax 360, developed by another Swiss designer Martin Lotti.

For the population of Switzerland, the Mudac Design Museum is one channel where they can show to the world the innovativeness and class that Swiss products have been known for.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

In the northeastern zone of Russia lies a silent town whose name was derived from a local mouse, which was believed to have saved a person from the location where the current city emerged.

The colorful town of Myshkin has another popular attraction, the Volga River, as its backdrop. Although, the town has been settled as early as the 13th century, Catherine II awarded it city hood only at the end of the 18th century.

One of the various attractions that Myshkin offers to vacationists is the journey. Its classiness and its breathtaking sights are simply charismatic. However, majority of the journey operators are always in a bind to get done with the path right away and go back to Moscow. The beautiful sight of this city could make tourists long for a longer journey through the wonderful river.

Moreover, tourists will likewise be intrigued with majestic picture of pine forests that blends with the landscape of chapels and museums. Likewise, individuals will have some sense of inner peace when they make their way towards the various towns and associate with the local community.

Furthermore, tourists can get a chance to visit museums with a wide assortment of collections, including an exclusive section for the rodent species. Likewise, they can treat themselves to a movie in the more than three theaters so a movie endeavor can be included in the agenda. Finally, there is a museum showcasing a wide assortment of Russian vodka, which is dedicated for the people who have the passion for drinking this variant of beverage.

While the city of Myshkin is more popular for its name, vacationists can still look forward to an exciting and memorable journey.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

Paris, the “City of Lights,” is one of the more recognized boom towns in the world. As the heart of economic undertakings in France, it is also the home of major international organizations in the world such as UNESCO, NATO, the OECD, and the ICC. Aside from this, Paris can be considered as the heart of fashion throughout the world as recognized intercontinental designers are based in the city.

This French city was principally known as Lutetia before it was called by its current name. It is known as the “City of Light,” because of the elegant lifestyle of its community as well as its pretty attractions. The bustling city has been one of the most frequented spots by travelers the whole year through.

In addition, the city was the location of a chaotic event in 1971 which resulted to the destruction of the central market. Currently, a modernized metro center is situated at the particular spot.

The present-day phase of the city is the product of varied renovations and major developments. Towards the middle portion of the nineteenth century, comprehensive development projects were undertaken by the city government which included road widenings and urbanization of rural sections. High-rised buildings are very common in the city although preservation laws have hindered modernization endeavors within the perimeters of Paris.

Finally, it is worth noting that there are diverse things to see in Paris that can make any visit worthwhile.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

When it comes to fame and prestige, the immaculate beaches of the island of Majorca is the ideal (siteto visit when planning to have an exciting vacation. With its diverse attractions, there is a wide assortment of reasons for tourists to travel.

Known for its various beaches, there are different variants of things that tourists can indulge in this picturesque island located in the Mediterranean sector. From water sports to fishing or golf, individuals are guaranteed of having an first-rate time during their stay.

In addition, car rental services as well as group voyage are two recommended manners to explore Majorca. There is a wide array of car rental services as well as bus tours that are stationed at the chief towns of the island. Traveling by train is another alternative since the trip passes through lovely spots showcasing a look of the whole island of Majorca.

Moreover, going to the island is relatively simple since there are diverse directional signs along the route. This can give tourists the opportunity to have a peek at the rural sectors of the island. The beauty of the island can be attributed to the mixture of its landscapes, with caverns, forest, mountains, among others making up its terrestrial aspects. Finally, celebrations have a salient role in the culture of the population of Majorca.

A tour of Majorca in Spain can be an interesting proposition for vacationists looking for the ideal place to spend their sojourn.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

Paris, the “City of Lights,” is one of the more established megalopolis in the world. As the nucleus of economic ventures in France, it is also the home of major international organizations in the world such as UNESCO, NATO, the OECD, and the ICC. Aside from this, Paris can be considered as the nucleus of fashion throughout the world as recognized cosmopolitan designers are based in the city.

This French city was primarily known as Lutetia before it was called by its concurrent name. It is known as the “City of Light,” because of the elegant lifestyle of its populace as well as its lovely attractions. The bustling city has been one of the most frequented locations by vacationists the whole year through.

In addition, the city was the place of a rowdy event in 1971 which resulted to the destruction of the central market. Currently, a cutting-edge metro center is situated at the particular location.

The |contemporary phase of the city is the product of diverse renovations and major developments. Towards the middle portion of the nineteenth century, major development projects were undertaken by the city government which included road widenings and urbanization of rural sectors. High-rised buildings are very common in the city although preservation laws have hindered modernization ventures within the barriers of Paris.

Finally, it is worth noting that there are numerous things to see in Paris that can make any tour worthwhile.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

The fair is organized by the N.C.C. Exhibition Organizer Company Limited, sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The event will take place during 21 - 24 June, 2007, at 10.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m., at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

In the event, there will be a variety of quality products, services, and tourist attractions with 10-50% off, categorized into zones as follows:

- Grand Sale Zone, comprising clothes, accessories, leather products, and brand names for shopping admirers who prefer quality products at special prices.
- Grand Service Zone for travelers. A variety of accommodation, tourist attractions, airlines, as well as, both domestic and international tour packages is lined up to be chosen.
- Lifestyle and Leisure Zone with the highlight activities to create colorful traveling. It is to respond to the tourism lifestyles of the new generation who have their own unique traveling choices and styles.

[Source from; www.tourismthailand.org]

Original post by Michael Comglas and software by Elliott Back

Unlike its European neighbors, the Swiss cooking is known to be simple and effortless to prepare and eat. More often than not, these dishes do not require costly and rare ingredients for their food to taste yummy. Sightseers on sojourn to Switzerland will find that the fare reminds them of home, as the flavors tend to be usual and easy to pinpoint. In this place, most of their cooking revolves around dairy products like cheese, butter, and milk, a testament to their Alpine roots. Of course, the number of migrants from foreign places contribute to the addition of exotic flavors to the already yummy cuisine of the Swiss. Since Switzerland is a prevalent trip spot for the rich and famous, it also has many restaurants that offer expensive and sophisticated meals.

For the health-conscious sightseers and local villager, Swiss menu is kind enough to add vegetables and white meat to its cooking styles. Despite the fact that the food in this place can be quite expensive, the yummy taste in itself is worth it. However, for the local villagers, it is required that they know their way around the kitchen, so as to save on the food expenses. Luckily for sightseers and migrants, there are some restaurants in Switzerland that offers economical meals.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back